An investigation showed that the 16-year-old had a firearm in his waistband that discharged, causing the bullet to travel through his leg before striking Quasheda Pierce and traveling through her leg as well before striking the funeral platform.
Investigators said residue from the gunshot was found inside the pants the teenager was wearing at the time of the incident.
Quasheda Pierce asked that the person responsible not be prosecuted.
Sheriff s detectives conducted an investigation, which was forwarded to the State Attorney s Office, where the decision was made to charge the boy.
Sincere Pierce, 18, was shot and killed by a sheriff s deputy during a traffic stop on Nov. 13, 2020. Pierce was sitting in the rear driver s side of a Volkswagen sedan when the driver, 16-year-old A.J. Crooms, attempted to evade the stop.
Relatives of two Cocoa teens killed when shot by a sheriff s deputy in November rallied with protesters near the Moore Justice Center late Thursday as the Brevard County state attorney continues to review the case.
Nearly 15 people gathered about 4 p.m. Thursday alongside the courthouse, as chants of no justice, no peace, could be heard near Building C of the government complex. It makes me feel pretty good to know that someone is in our corner, said Cynthia Byrd-Green, a retired registered nurse who raised one of the two teens, Sincere Pierce, 16. We just want justice, said Green who also witnessed the deadly Nov. 13 encounter along a street within walking distance of her house in Cocoa.